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Lionel Messi will meet Robert Lewandowski as two of the best strikers on the planet go head-to-head in a World Cup Group C showdown in Qatar, with Argentina and Poland drawn against each other.
Messi, making what will be his final World Cup appearance, will be heading to the Middle East looking to add the world team trophy to his already glittering individual collection — which includes an amazing seven FIFA Ballon messi with psg jersey d'Or awards.
Argentina and Poland will both fancy their chances of progression, and they meet on November 30 in the final group game, but it is far from hoeveel messi shirts verkocht psg a straightforward pool — with Mexico likely to put up a stiff challenge, having come through North American (CONCACAF) qualifying in sty psg jordan jersey xl le.
Saudi Arabia — one of the lowest-ranked sides in the tournament — will carry hopes of upsetting the more established powers, but they will have it all to do.
WORLD CUP GROUP BREAKDOWNS:
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D
Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H
World Cup Group C fixtures and match schedule
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Tues, Nov. 22 | Argentina vs. S. Arabia | 5 a.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Tues, Nov. 22 | Mexico vs. Poland | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
Sat, Nov. 26 | Poland vs. S. Arabia | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
Sat, Nov. 26 | Argentina vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Wed, Nov. 30 | Poland vs. Argentina | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
Wed, Nov. 30 | S. Arabia vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
The four teams selected into the group will play a round-robin format with each nation facing the other three. Group standings are based on points from those three group-stage matches — three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a loss.
The top two teams from each group based on psg shirt zwart roze total points advance to the single-game knockouts. If teams are tied on points, goal difference is the first tiebreaker followed by goals scored. If teams are also tied in those categories another set of tiebreakers is applied.
World Cup Group C teams
Argentina
One of the World Cup’s traditional powerhouses, the 2022 tournament in Qatar could see a return to the old order of Argentina as a major force to be reckoned with, but it will also mark the last hurrah for one of the game’s greatest-ever players.
Lionel Messi is now 35, and Qatar will be the last chance for him to add the World Cup trophy to his already bulging cabinet and cap off a remarkable career, after he confirmed it will be his last appearance at the tournament.
Undoubtedly, he will be the star name for the South Americans — who head to the Middle East as the Copa America champions, following their victory over arch-rivals Brazil last year — but there is plenty of additional talent in Lionel Scaolini’s side too, not least from the likes of Angel Di Maria, who scored the vital goal in that Copa final victory.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 3 (August, 2022)
- Regional ranking: 2nd (CONMEBOL)
- World Cup titles: 2
- World Cup appearances (last): 17 (Russia 2018)
- How qualified: CONMEBOL World Cup Qualification runners-up: 11W-0L-6D
- Coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina) since August, 2018
- Key players: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain / France), Angel Di Maria (Juventus / Italy), Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreral / Spain)
Saudi Arabia
In their last four involvements at the World Cup, Saudi Arabia’s exit has come in the group stages — and it is difficult to envisage that being bettered this time around in Qatar.
Herve Renard’s team deserve credit for finishing above Australia in qualifying, but the psg shirt zwart re is a feeling that they could find matters much more difficult when faced with tougher tasks. psg jersey home
The entire Saudi Arabia squad currently plays in their home country, although in Renard they have a coach who has experienced the full breadth of international football, with previous spells in charge of Morocco, Ivory Coast, Zambia (twice) and Angola. At Russia 2018, Saudi Arabia exited having scored just two goals, and Renard will be desperately hoping that striker Saleh Al Shehri can return to full fitness to lead them this time after his four goals in the qualifiers.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 53 (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 6th (AFC)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 6 (Russia 2018)
- How qualified: AFC Third Round Group B runners-up 7W-1L-2D)
- Coach: Herve Renard (France) since July, 2019
- Key players: Saleh Al Shehri (Al Hilal / Saudi Arabia), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal / Saudi Arabia), Salman Al Faraj (Al Hilal / Saudi Arabia)
Mexico
Mexico extended their streak of appearing at every World Cup finals since 1994 by securing CONCACAF qualification as runners-up to Canada on goal di messi paris jersey youth fference in the final round.
El Tri has a roster that relies on individuals who feature in Europe and North America. Of those, Wolves striker Raul Jimenez and Houston Dynamo veteran Hector Herrera will both be heavily called upon to propel the World Cup bid. The loss of Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona to injury is, though, a significant blow.
Mexico don’t score or concede many goals — averaging just over one goal a game scored in their qualification bid — and they will hope that compact gameplan, devised by wily former Barcelona coach Gerardo Marti braithwaite barcelona jersey no, can prove sufficient to stifle group opponents.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 12 (August, 2022)
- Regional ranking: 1st (CONCACAF)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 16 (Brazil 2018)
- How qualified: (CONCACAF qualifying runners-up: 7W-2L-4D
- Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentina) since January, 2019
- Key players: Raul Jimenez (Wolves / England), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo / USA), Hirving Lozano (Napoli / Italy)
Poland
Poland’s Robert Lewandow psg jersey q ski won the battle of the talismans against Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic to book the Eastern Europeans a spot in the finals via the playoff route, following a 2-0 win. Poland had previously been given a bye straight through to the final match after first-round opponents Russia were banned by FIFA as a result of their country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Their 34-year-old Barcelona striker aside, Poland’s roster consists of plenty of experienced performers who play domestically across Europe. Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski should supply valuable chances for Lewandoski to add to his superb international goal tally.
Czeslaw Michniewicz’s side claim an illustrious history at the World Cup — having twice finished third — and they will be confident of getting out of the group phase, after losing just twice through the entire qualification process.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 26 (August, 2022)
- Regional ranking: 15th (UEFA)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 8 (Russia 2018)
- How qualified: (UEFA playoff winners: (2-0 vs. Sweden)
- Coach: Czeslaw Michniewicz (Poland) since January, 2022
- Star players: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona / Spain), Piotr Zielinski (Napoli / Italy), Matty Cash (Aston Villa / England)
World Cup Group C odds and predictions
Here are the odds for each team to win and qualify from the group, with odds provided by Sports Interaction (correct as of Sept, 2022).
Minus odds is what must be wag messi holding shirt poster ered to win $100 on that specific bet, while plus odds represent the winnings from a successful $100 wager.
The first-place and second-place finishers in Group C will move on to the Round of 16 and will face off against the two teams to advance from Group D on Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4.
Team | Group Winner | To Qualify |
Argentina | -256 | -1435 |
Poland | +442 | -122 |
Mexico | +491 | -109 |
S. Arabia | +1965 | +454 |
MORE WORLD CUP 2022:
Full Qatar 2022 schedule | Latest news
The official FIFA 2022 World Cup match schedule outlines the following knockout pairings for the Round of 16 through to the final:
World Cup Round of 16
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Sat, Dec. 3 | 1A vs. 2B | 10 a.m. | Khalifa Int'l |
Sat, Dec. 3 | 1C vs. 2D | 2 p.m. | Ahmad Bin Ali |
Sun, Dec. 4 | 1D vs. 2C | 10 a.m. | Al Thumama |
Sun, Dec. 4 | 1B vs. 2A | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
Mon, Dec. 5 | 1E vs. 2F | 10 a.m. | Al Janoub |
Mon, Dec. 5 | 1G vs. 2H | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
Tues, Dec. 6 | 1F vs. 2E | 10 a.m. | Education City |
Tues, Dec. 6 | 1H vs. 2G | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
World Cup Quarterfinals
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Fri, Dec. 9 | QF1: 1E/2F vs. 1G/2H | 10 a.m. | Education City |
Fri, Dec. 9 | QF2: 1A/2B vs. 1C/2D | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
Sat, Dec. 10 | QF3: 1F/2E vs. 1H/2G | 10 a.m. | Al Thumama |
Sat, Dec. 10 | QF4: 1B/2A vs. 1D/2C | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
World Cup Semifinals
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Tues, Dec. 13 | QF2 vs. QF1 | 2 p.m. | Lusail |
Wed, Dec. 14 | QF4 vs. QF3 | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
World Cup 3rd Place
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Sat, Dec. 17 | Semifinal losers | 10 a.m. | Khalifa Int'l |
World Cup Final
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Sun, Dec. 18 | Semifinal winners | 10 a.m. | Lusail |